We owe our children – the most vulnerable citizens in any society – a life free from violence and fear.
Nelson MandelaRead
Only armchair politicians are immune from committing mistakes. Errors are inherent in political action.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Political actions carry inherent risks of mistakes, while those who do not engage in politics can avoid them.
Nelson Mandela highlights the reality that engaging in politics inherently involves making mistakes, as no action can be executed flawlessly. The 'armchair politicians'—those who criticize from the sidelines without participating—remain untouched by the pitfalls of political life, emphasizing that true involvement requires courage to err and learn.
Themes
PoliticsMistakesEngagementActionCriticism
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the difficulties faced by leaders, you could quote Mandela to emphasize the challenges of political decision-making.
More from Nelson Mandela
All quotes →What freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned? Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.
Nelson MandelaRead
The past is a rich resource on which we can draw in order to make decisions for the future, but it does not dictate our choices. We should look back at the past and select what is good, and leave behind what is bad.
Nelson MandelaRead
We signal that good can be achieved amongst human beings who are prepared to trust, prepared to believe in the goodness of people.
Nelson MandelaRead
After one has been in prison, it is the small things that one appreciates: being able to take a walk whenever one wants, going into a shop and buying a newspaper, speaking or choosing to remain silent. The simple act of being able to control one's person.
Nelson MandelaRead
I dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent. I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses.
Nelson MandelaRead
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